Method of covering containers



March 20, 1945- H. J. ARENA ET AL METHOD OF COVERING CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 29, 1942 &w MA 0 T N X EMA wE EN EN mmwafim R n .T 1 A R w N c 3% w E] H Y B Patented Mar. 20, 1945 METHOD OF COVERING CONTAINERS Hector J. Arena, Hudson, and John J. Virgona, Cliffside Park, N. J.

Application September 29, 1942, Serial No. 460,146

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to improvements in methods of covering or wrapping containers made of breakable material, more particularly to im provements in methods of covering or wrapping containers made of breakable material and containing a liquid with a'layer of absorbent material such as a textile fabric and still more particularly to improvements in methods of covering or wrapping ampoules made of breakable material such as fragile glass and containing a liquid with a layer of absorbent fabric and to secure such layer to the ampoules. v Ampoules of this type are used for various purposes for example as containers for smelling volatile liquid such as ammonia or amyl nitrite. They are crushed when to be used. The absorbent cover will immediately absorb the released smelling liquid which can be inhaled by holding it to the nostrils.

It is well known in the art to cover or wrap each individual ampoule with a pad of absorbent material such as cottom and to secure the cotton pad by weaving a sack over the cotton pad. Both ends of the sack are then tied, glued or sewed together.

One object ,of our invention is to provide an improved method of covering or wrapping breakable ampoules with an absorbent layer by which method the time required for covering or wrapping ampoules is reduced and hence the production costs are greatly lowered.

Another object of our invention is to provide a method of covering or wrapping breakable ampoules of the class described with an absorbent cover by which a closely fitting covering or wrap- Figure 2 is a cross-section along line 2-2 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a cross-section along line 3-3 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a cross-section along line 4-4 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 shows an ampoule covered with a cover of absorbent material by carrying out the method according to our invention;

Figure 6 is a section along line 66 of Figure 5 and,

Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section of a modification of Figure 6.

In carrying out the method according to our invention we provide a piece of a hose l0 made of suitable absorbent material such as cotton. The hose may have any convenient length which can be easily l andled. Into this hose we slide by hand or by any suitable device a number of ampoules I I. These ampoules are made of break able material such as fragile glass and contain a liquid, preferably a smelling volatile liquid such as ammonia or amyl nitrite. However, we do not want to limit our invention to ampoules containing a liquid since we have found that under certain circumstances the ampoules can be used as containers for salts in powder or granulated form. Ampoules of the type in question are conventionally used as container for smelling salts which are held to the nostrils and inhaled. However, they can also be used for other substances for example for a nail polish remover.

Instead of using a single hose II), it is also possible to use several hoses l0 made of absorbent ping of the ampoules is produced. We found that a closely fitting cover improves and accelerates the absorption of the liquid when released.

Another object of our invention is to provide a method of covering or wrapping a breakable ampoule of the class described by which a very uniform and neat cover is obtained without in creasing production time and cost.

Another object of our invention is to provide a method of tightening covered or wrapped breakable ampoules made of breakable material and containing a liquid.

Further and other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing various production steps made when carried out according to our invention are shown:

Figure 1 shows the covering of ampoules in various stages of progress;

material. We have found it preferable to use an inner hose I0 made of cotton and an outer covering hose l2 made of rayon or similar material in order to improve the appearance of the ampoule cover. The outer hose may or may not be of absorbent material but it should be of porous material in order to permit the free evaporation of any volatile liquid absorbed by the inner hose to.

The inner hose has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the ampoules ill. The ampoules are shown as having a substantially cylindrical shape. However, they may have any other suitable shape, for instance an oval or spherical shape.

After a number of ampoules have been slidinto inner hose l0, leaving a certain space between each two adjacentampoules, the ampoules are fixed within certain hose sections by tightening the hoses opposite each end of each ampoule. It is not necessary-to tighten hoses l0 and I2 completely but it is suificient to narrow the inner diameter of inner hose l sufliciently to prevent ampoules H from sliding out oi their hose sections.

The hose sections between two. adjacent ampoules can be tightened by any suitable means for example by tying, gluing or sewing. We have found it advisable to tighten hoses l0 and I2 by staples l4 which may be of any suitable material for example ferrous or non-ferrous metals or a plastic.

The right side of Figure 1 shows the positions of a plurality of ampoules I I after they had been slid into the inner hose Ill. The left side of Figure 1 illustrates the tightening of the hose sections between two adjacent ampoules by staples l4.

After tightening the intermediate hose sections, the ampoules are separated by cutting hoses I0 and I2 apart between each two adjacent ampoules.

Figure 5 illustrates a completed product. The protruding ends I 5 of hoses I0 and i2 usually will fray out.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of our invention where hoses l0 and ii are tightened by tying.

It is obvious from the previous description and the illustration that the time required for covering an individual ampoule is greatly reduced by usinga hose and covering a substantial number of ampoules at the same time. Furthermore, the fitting and tightness of the cover are no longer left to the skill of the worker since the hose used has a substantiallyuniform cross-section which will fit all ampoules equally well. The tighteningof the hose by staples beiore the hose is cut into separate pieces can be accomplished faster than binding each individual cover at both ends or the ampoule.

Other advantages are obvious from the previous specification.

Our invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described but various changes and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of our invention,

What we claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

The method of forming covered breakable ampoules, which comprises, in combination, inserting a plurality of ampoules one after the other into a, length of prefabricated hose composed of inner hose consisting of an absorbent material and outer hose consisting of a porous material, the diameter of the inner hose being substantially equal to that of the ampoules, spacing said ampoules within the length of hose, fixing the spaced ampoules therein by separately stapling each ampoule on opposite sides thereof to the hose, to form a. section between two staples and two ampoules, whereby an elongated strip containing a plurality of ampoules is formed, and then cutting ofi covered ampoules individually from said strip by cutting the strip through each section extending between the two staples belonging to different ampoules, whereby covered ampoules are formed the coverings of which are stapled at both ends of the ampoules.

HECTOR J. ARENA. JOHN J. VIRGONA. 

